Forschung

Jacques-Henry Weil is known for his contribution to plant molecular biology, particularly for his work on the mechanisms of protein synthesis in plant organelles (chloroplasts and mitochondria). More specifically he has studied two phenomena occurring in plant mitochondria, namely (i) RNA editing (which consists in C to U changes at the messenger RNA level, thus correcting the genetic information carried by the transcripts) and (ii) import of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) into mitochondria (plant mitochondrial protein synthesis requires the import of a number of nuclear-encoded tRNAs, because the plant mitochondrial genome does not code for a complete set of tRNAs).

Career

• since 2003 Honorary Professor, University of Strasbourg, France
• 1987-1999 Director of the “Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes” (CNRS), Strasbourg, France
• 1977-1981 Vice-President of Louis Pasteur University, in charge of research, France
• 1970-2003 Full Professor of Biochemistry, University of Strasbourg, France
• 1966-1970 Associate. Professor of Biochemistry, University of Strasbourg, France
• 1966-1967 Post-doctoral fellow, Yale University, Dept of Molecular Biophysics, New Haven, USA
• 1964 Ph.D. at the University Strasbourg (Doctorat es Sciences), France
• 1957-1964 Researcher, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), France
• 1957-1964 Studies at the University of Strasbourg (Sciences), France
• 1956-1957 Assistant, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
• 1954-1956 Resident Pharmacist, Strasbourg University Hospital, France
• 1950-1955 Studies at the University of Strasbourg (Pharmacy), France

Functions

• since 2011 Chairman of the “Science & Society” Committee of FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies)
• since 2005 Member of the “Cercle Gutenberg” (Association of members of the French and Foreign Academies of Sciences in Strasbourg), France
• 2004-2010 Editor of “IUBMB Life”
• 2004-2009 Chairman of the IUBMB Wood-Whelan Fellowship Committee
• 2002-2006 Member of the Scientific Management Board of EFBIC (European Focus for Biotechnology in China)
• 2001-2009 General Secretary of IUBMB “International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” since 1992 President of the Committee “Weizmann Institute - Université Louis Pasteur Strasbourg”
• 1990-1992 Editor of “FEBS Letters”
• 1998-2001 President of the Biochemistry section of the National Council of Universities
• 1996-2001 Council member of the French Society of Plant Physiology
• 1989-1999 Scientific Advisor of the Human Frontier Science Program
• 1989-1990 President of the Board of Directors of ISPMB (International Society for Plant Molecular Biology)
• 1988-1994 President of France to the EMBO Conference
• 1987-1991 Member of the Scientific Council of the Indo-French Center for the Promotion of Advanced Research
• 1986-1988 President of France to the EMBL Council
• 1984-1986 Vice-President of the French Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SFBBM)
• 1983-2004 Editor-in-Chief of “Plant Science”
• 1982-1985 Member of the EMBO Fellowship Committee
• 1981-1991 Editor of “Plant Molecular Biology”
• 1981-1984 Member of the NATO Committee on Advanced Study Institutes and Advanced Research Workshops
• 1978-1989 Adviser for Biology, Ministry of National Education
• since 1977 Member of EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization)

Honours and Memberships

• 2007 Medal of the French Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• 2001 Honorary Doctor’s degree, University of Nagoya, Japan
• 1992 Officier,  Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, France
• 1987 Officier, Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, France
• 1980 Labbé Prizeof the French Academy of Science
• 1965 Ch. L. Meyer Prize of the French Biochemical Society
• 1978 Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, France
• 1979 Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, France